You Can Play Q&A with Patrick Burke

Patrick Burke, the co-founder of the You Can Play Project, weighs in on the Comcast SportsNet Bay Area public service announcements that began airing on the network this week.

Based on the You Can Play videos that launched in the NHL last year, the CSNBA spots feature a star from every local sports team: Vernon Davis (49ers), Marcel Reese (Raiders), Barry Zito (Giants), Coco Crisp (A's), Chris Wondolowski (Earthquakes), Joe Thornton (Sharks) and Klay Thompson (Warriors).

Q: Have you seen the Bay Area spots?

Burke: They're awesome. It's really exciting. I think it's really important to have a unified stance from the entire sports community in the Bay Area.

Every team is stepping up and saying they support LGBT athletes. They welcome and support LGBT fans, they back LGBT coaches. This isn't just one team and it's not just one player. These are star players from every team in the community saying this is an issue and they want to fix it.

Q: What does it mean that these are notable names stepping forward?

Burke: I don't think we ever want to discount the courage of a special teamer or a fourth-liner stepping up on these things as well. But I do think having a recognizable face for a 15- or 16-year old kid who might not be a big football fan but knows who Vernon Davis is.

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I do think it carries a little bit more weight when it's an elite player and a leader in the locker room saying: "Hey, I'm one of the best in the game and as long as you can match me or contribute to my team, then I don't care who you love off the field."

Q: The NHL campaign has been going for a while. How can you tell if it's making a difference?

Burke: I think what we're doing by having so many star players step up is that it's forcing other players to talk about it. For the most part, those conversations are overwhelmingly positive

And for young athletes, it's definitely important to hear this message from professional athletes and that they feel safe. But in the bigger picture, if there's a 15- or 16-year old kid out there who is thinking about leaving sports or didn't feel comfortable in the locker room. Seeing these things is really where the change is going to be made.

Q: Jason Collins, the NBA player came out earlier this year and got a lot of support. Is momentum building on this issue?

Burke: Oh, absolutely. I think every professional sport is absolutely ready to welcome gay players. I don't think it's even a question on that anymore. I think we need to do a better job educating players on their language, educating players on what's appropriate and what's not, and about the differences between saying something in your locker room and saying something on Twitter.

I have no doubt that the vast majority of athletes in every sport will support an openly LGBT athlete without hesitation.

Q: The ads are so straightforward and have kind of an edgy vibe. What's the thinking there?

Burke: It's a pretty straightforward concept. If you're good enough, you're on the team. If you're not, you're not. That's the best thing about sports. It's this great evening.

You can be rich or poor or black or white, religious or not religious -- or any of the hundreds of barriers that are set up to divide us. Then you step on the field and none of that matters.

Our message is that it goes for LGBT people as well. As long as you're contributing on the field, on the ice, on the court, then nothing else matters. It's a message that athletes really respond to. It's not out of charity. It's not out of pity. It's, "Hey, there are talented gay athletes out here who can really help you guys." And that's all that matters.

Q: Will you be monitoring reaction to the Bay Area ads?

Burke: I don't need to do too much monitoring. Rick Welts (the Warriors' openly gay president and chief of operations) is on our advisory board. I just did a training session with the Earthquakes.

In general, I think everyone is starting to really get it and understand it and support it. The Bay Area obviously has a wonderful and strong LGBT community. We think this will fit right in and hopefully bring the LGBT community and the sports community a little bit closer together.